Men's Water Polo Struggles at Eastern Championships

Dodge Selected to All-South Division First Team

Dodge was named to both the CWPA All-South Division First Team and the Eastern Championship All-Tournament Second Team

Nov. 17, 2003

ANNAPOLIS, MD - The men's water polo team ended the regular season with three tough losses at the Eastern Championships and an eighth place finish. Senior Pat Dodge earned All-South Division First Team honors and a spot on the All-Tournament Second Team for his solid play.

GW (9-18) opened the weekend versus Queens College in the first round and struggled in the first half, allowing Queens to score five first-period goals. The Colonials would shake off the early nerves, and match the Royals score-for-score for the remainder of the match, but Queens' early lead proved too much to overcome and GW fell, 11-6.

Dodge led the Colonials with three scores, with Nicholas Koenemann adding two goals for the match. Goalkeeper Chris Blick recorded three saves against Queens.

With the loss, the Colonials drew a second round date with Iona at the Eastern Championships. GW would fare better in this match, trailing the Gaels by just a single score at the half, 4-3. However, Iona would pull away in the last two periods, as the Colonials were unable to catch the Gaels, falling 8-5.

Dodge again led GW in scoring with two goals, while Koenemann, Jason Grimes and Gur Doitel each added a score. Blick had an outstanding match, tallying 10 saves to keep GW in the hunt.

In their final match of the weekend, the Colonials took on an all too familiar opponent, the Bucknell Bison. The two teams met twice this season, splitting the two matches. GW's final match of the year played out much like their two previous meetings with the Bison; each team battling, and the score remaining close. However, in third period, with GW holding a 3-2 lead, Bucknell exploded for five scores, while holding the Colonials to just one to take a 7-4 lead. GW would make a valiant effort to comeback, but feel short in the final quarter and losing 8-6.

Grimes score three goals and Dodge notched his sixth score of the tournament in the losing effort. The Collegiate Water Polo Association named Dodge to the All-South Division First Team, and he also earned a spot on the Eastern Championship All-Tournament Second Team. Seniors Dodge, Doitel, Grimes and Blick all finished their outstanding careers at GW this past weekend.